But Billy is safe. Inviting him in can be the first step.
I opened my eyes and stared at him. Yes. I could do this.
“Christmas is in three weeks. How about Christmas Eve, you come over, and I’ll make cocoa, cookies, and we can watch Christmas movies?”
Billy’s face lit up, and he thrust his hand out. “You’ve got a deal!”
I leaped back as instant fear hit me like a brick to the face. My face flushed with mortification as Billy stared at me in concern.
“Oh, Lumen, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. I was just?—”
“I know, you’re fine. I-I’ll see you later, Billy.” I went to close the door again.
“Are we still on for Christmas Eve?” He leaned to see me.
“Yes. Let’s plan for that.” I bit my lower lip hard until I could taste blood.
“Great! Oh! I almost forgot; your mail. I picked it up for you.”
I paused as he dug into his pockets and pulled out two letters and a folded manila envelope. I took it from him cautiously, the fear of him grabbing my wrist and pulling me outside ever prevalent in my mind. Who was sending me stuff?
“It’s the season,” Billy said, as if reading my mind. “Probably one of those oversized Christmas cards.”
“Maybe. Thank you, Billy. I’ll see you tomorrow.” I shut the door quickly so I didn’t have to see the deflation in his face as once again he was shut out. I spun around and rested my back against the door and then bolted away, the fear of a large knife penetrating the wood and slicing me in half forcing me to lock and flee the entryway.
I went to the kitchen to sit at the island and open my mail. The letters were junk mail. I looked at the front of the envelope.How strange.It was addressed to me, with my old address, so it must be someone I knew from my previous life.
When things were happy.
I pulled out the contents and gasped. I blinked and dropped the photos onto the countertop. I hadn’t even thought about them since that day. How hopeful and happy I’d been afterward. I stared down at the photos of me and my handsome stranger, Tobias. With shaky hands, I picked them back up and began to go through them. The photos were stunning and had my heart racing. I ran my finger across his lips, and sadness overtook me as I remembered that while I was kissing this unfamiliar man, my family was being murdered.
Everything happened so fast, I’d lost his number.
Not that I would have called him anyway. My life now was depressing and embarrassing. Who would want to bewith someone who couldn’t leave the house without sobbing uncontrollably?
I reached for the envelope to search for the address of the studio. I would have to write her a polite thank-you letter. She probably had no clue how much it hurt to see these but was just trying to be kind.
But as I flipped the envelope over, I discovered that not only was there no address listed under my name, there wasn’t a return address or stamp either.
Rule 3 - Tobias
COLLECT ALL EVIDENCE OF YOUR CRIMES.
“Creme Brûlée Cappuccino for Tobias!” the barista yelled my order and set my cup on the counter. I stood, pausing to set the envelope I’d received a week prior on my table. Getting my coffee, I returned to the table and stared off into the distance while I waited. I glanced at my watch. I was told to be here at two, and it was five minutes past.
A moment later, the bell above the door dinged and two women came in with loud stomps and shaking to get the thick snow off their boots and coats. She didn’t have to remove any of her winter gear for me to know it was her I was waiting for. Even in winter, she wore black, head to toe.
The pair of women hung up their hats and coats and then went to the counter to order themselves something to drink. I watched intently, sipping my drink, as they moved through the line, gushing to each other as if they were just here for a friendly little catch-up.
Hardly.
Neve turned to look around the cafe and spotted me, waving excitedly, as if the mail she’d sent me wasn’t straight blackmail.
This town was... quaint. I’d grown up here, but left the week after I graduated high school. I only returned a few times a year to visit my dad, but I hadn’t been back since last year, after the tragedy at the mall. Eleven dead in an hour. Four of them right next to the studio I was in all afternoon.
“Tobias, how are you?” Neve and her friend slid into my booth after picking up their steaming cups. “How have you been?”
“Fine,” I replied curtly, sipping my coffee. While I hadn’t had plans to be in this shop today, my drink was good. “And you?”
